Sometimes a fun way to cheer your self up is to fill others with misery. Also making others jealous is a great way to remind yourself that life isn't so bad, if you've done awesome things other's would be envious of then at least some parts of life have to be great. 

So I want you to post pictures of the amazing things you've done, places you've seen or people you've met or even just really cool stuff that you own or maybe even won! 

I have totally been planning this campfire for months btw, I was simply waiting for one more moment to add to my list. Also yes, I'm going to be going on about the famous people I've met again because I don't have much else awesome to talk about, so if you're fed up of me sorry! Lol, I also just want to see your adventures and awesome stuff....

How many times can I get away with saying awesome? 

I will start the ball rolling with one simple picture.... I will post more in the comments though

That is me with David Tennant (the 10th doctor) 

Now come onnnnn, show me what you've got!!

The world didn't end, and my first novel, Ghostwriter, is only $4.99 today and tomorrow. Two reasons to celebrate!

My second novel The End of All Things is available for pre-order now.

After a terrible virus ravages the planet, Carly, one of the few survivors, hides in her apartment in Juneau trying to survive the best she can with only occasional forays to gather food. She is discovered by Justin, an ex-soldier intent on making his way to Florida before winter sets in. This is the story of their journey to find a place to begin a new life, and a home in each other.

If you order now, I'll send you a signed book plate to put in it. You can read the first chapter here.

Christmas Challenge!

This week's challenge - give a healthy holiday alternative (thanks for the idea, Hummingbird!)

What are you having for Christmas dinner? Have you planned healthy alternatives or have you, like me, become a slave to tradition and just ordered an online shop full of yummy but fattening things?

Were the Mayans wrong?

If this WAS the Apocalypse, would you want to be a Zombie?

Add your funny thing here- doesn't have to be related to the END of the WORLD

J

yeah, you read that right. 

free for all until after new year's!

post away, my little partridges in pear trees!

whatever you want, no recs or permission required!

just, you know. no pictures of santa's package and keep your elfing mouths clean on my front page. other than that? have at it!

this morning, i'm helping out for 3 classroom holiday parties. the 4th grade holiday breakfast and then on to gingerbread decorating in the 5th grade. i baked all night!

then tomorrow we're gonna try and go up to mt. baldy so my california kids can see some snow.

what're you guys doing this fine holiday weekend?

a black banana with a greasy black peeeeeeeeeel fyt:

Dusty is over! :(

The story has been completed and it's been about a year since it started. I know many campers read Dusty. Since so many of you follow it, I have questions! I read it but I am confused by a lot of it. I guess I am not accustomed to that sort of writing style. The last chapter confused me. Heck, the chapter before that one confused me also (along with a few others). 

So can someone, or multiple someones, please help me understand and explain it? I read every chapter but got confused near the end of the story. I would love to be able to understand what happened.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7659651/1/

I'm ready to start some new fics over Christmas break! 
So - what's everyone reading? 
What were the last five fics you started/alerted? 
And, what were the last five fics you have on alert that updated? 

Here's mine --

Last 5 Read

1.  Mud, Sweat & Beers » by SparrowNotes24
Boot camp in the freezing winter sounds like hell on earth, but is there anything that would make it bearable? Bring on the sexy soldiers! A little bit of fun. All Human
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - Humor/Romance - Chapters: 14 - Words: 54,643 - Reviews: 404 - Updated: 12-17-12 - Published: 9-10-12 - - Bella/Edward

2.  Merry Textmas » by DH78
Bella is forced to tackle the crowds on Black Friday with her best friend, Angela. Can a random text message from a wrong number change the course of her day and her life? Banter galore! AH. VOTER'S CHOICE WINNER for the Naughty & Nice Holiday Contest!
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 5 - Words: 33,038 - Reviews: 818 - Updated: 4-2-11 - Published: 11-18-10 - - Bella/Edward - Complete

3.  In Your Room » by LayAtHomeMom
After years of bedroom boredom with Missionary Mike, can Bella find the sexual salvation she's seeking in the arms of campus hottie, Edward Cullen? Rated M for Edward's dirty mouth, Bella's inner whore, embarrassing situations and lemons galore…
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 14 - Words: 48,959 - Reviews: 1020 - Updated: 12-16-12 - Published: 11-1-12 - - Edward/Bella

4.  The Twilight Twenty-five: Round Seven » by twilly
Twenty-five adage inspired, one hundred word drabbles. What is an adage, you ask? It's a short but memorable saying expressing a general truth. I may not take these phrases at face value; but then again, maybe I will.
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - General - Chapters: 4 - Words: 637 - Reviews: 49 - Updated: 12-18-12 - Published: 12-15-12

5.  A Bullet from Chekhov's Gun » by callmepaglacci
"Charming" was the first deep cover Edward Cullen ever affected, years before he became a spy. Bella Swan is an American girl at Oxford with skills MI6 wants. "Befriending" Bella Swan will be his most challenging mission yet.
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 12 - Words: 28,591 - Reviews: 517 - Updated: 12-19-12 - Published: 9-12-12 - - Edward/Bella

Last 5 Updated
 

1. Seventh and Pine » by iambeagle
Eating food, drinking beer, and watching football are acceptable ways to spend your Thanksgiving Day. Wooing your niece's insanely attractive babysitter, however, is not. EPOV
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - Humor/Romance - Chapters: 7 - Words: 15,648 - Reviews: 932 - Updated: 12-20-12 - Published: 11-22-12 - - Bella/Edward

2. Dusty » by YellowBella
She loves him. He loves her crazy. She's a hopeless romantic. He's just hopeless. She's afraid to let go. He won't let her. A story about a silly girl in love with a foolish boy. Here, forever is a lie. TeamBella23 - the realist and YellowGlue - the poet
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 38 - Words: 409,986 - Reviews: 7308 - Updated: 12-20-12 - Published: 12-21-11 - - Bella/Edward - Complete
 

3. Beyond Inappropriate » by bornonhalloween
Edward is Off Limits, but when he tempts her again and again, how much can a hot-blooded, middle-aged woman take? Bella knows better than to lust after her son's best friend, but he's so damn perfect and the consequences seem miles away. All human, all BPOV. Rated M for lemon times.
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - Romance/General - Chapters: 46 - Words: 37,415 - Reviews: 3239 - Updated: 12-20-12 - Published: 9-10-12
 

4. Here We Are, As In Olden Days » by rinabina
Bella and Edward have been friends forever but ruth be told, it's always been a little more than that. A holiday collection of the history of Bella and Edward - Past, present and future. E/B AU AH Mostly fluff
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - Romance/General - Chapters: 12 - Words: 16,245 - Reviews: 334 - Updated: 12-20-12 - Published: 12-7-12 - - Bella/Edward
 

5. Dancing In The Dark » by jaxon22
"You can't start a fire, you can't start a fire without a spark. This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark." Immersed in a world of dance, drink, drugs, and women, Edward Cullen is the ultimate bachelor. Until he receives a late night phone call that changes everything. AH E/B
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - Romance/General - Chapters: 6 - Words: 22,641 - Reviews: 1468 - Updated: 12-20-12 - Published: 11-30-12 - - Edward/Bella

 

I have to pick books to read over my two week break from school.  Basically, I chose a vampire theme to write from and have to find 10-18 books to use as sources.

Here's more details:

Annotated Materials List

In Week One, you conducted an informal research study to determine reading interests of today’s youth. Using this data, you will develop an annotated material list including different genres, grade levels, and subject-specific needs. Your list will consist of print, non-print, and digital resources. You must use resources published after 2000.

a. Choose a topic based on your study from Week One: Civil War, Iranian food, Mammals, Oprah Winfrey, Baseball, etc. (You can also use the Common Core Standards for ideas to align with school curricula.)
b. Choose at least ten resources. These resources must include at least one example of the following: fiction, nonfiction, three different literary genres, picture book, mid-grade book, young adult book, media, digital.
c. Group the resources into main categories. (This could also be considered a Library Guide which you completed in EDU 441.)
d. For each resource, include a citation in A.P.A. and a brief summary and evaluation. Your summary will convey the main ideas. Your evaluation will describe your analyses of its validity, content, quality, accessibility, accuracy, authenticity, etc.
e. Write a paragraph listing all the resources you used to find your resources for this assignment.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Here's another:

Read an award-winning children’s book (picture book, mid-grade book, or young adult book). You can refer to your texts and/or this website: Database of Award-Winning Children’s Literature. There are many websites you can peruse to find award-winning books.

Write a review of this book. Your review will include a citation in APA, a summary, and a response/evaluation. Answer the following questions in your response: Did you like the book? Why or why not? Did the book deserve to win the award(s)? Why or why not? Consider and analyze the award criteria.

I love books, but none that I am reading or have read fit any one of these guildlines.  The librarian I saw treated me like I was stupid when I asked for a little guidance so I kind of refuse to ask her again.

TY.

Heather 

Ranger Edit: You guys are so awesome.  Campers of ADF are the best people anywhere.

I *think* it's free for all from now until the holidays are over??  From the last free for all post:

" starting thursday, the freeforall will last until past the new year. that's right, kiddos! plan on posting away."

If I'm wrong, just delete please :-)

***********************************************

Schools are closed today and I ain't going nowhere because of this:

Instead, I'm hanging out all day with my kiddo making these:

And this:

And drinking this:

Basically, I'm having a blizzardy chocolate sugar orgy.  

So, come inside and tell me how you spend snow days!  Or spam me with pics of great cookies I should make.  Or rec me a book or story that will help me recover from the fact that God-Shaped Hole ripped my heart out, threw it on the floor, and stomped all over it with steel-toed boots.  

George Takei (Mr. Sulu of original Star Trek fame, in case you didn't know.), was urged by fans of FB to do a dramatic reading of FSOG)  I just had to share...

Interactive: What's your favorite fsog parody? (Ellen DeGeneres' was awesome too.)

 My rec:

If You Asked Me To by Desert Darkfire (aka The Offspring)

Loki has never known anything but hate. He doesn't know how to feel. Then one night, he ends up in Forks, 3 years after Edward left Bella. A birthday, a crossing of worlds. A chance for him to love for the first time, a chance for her to love again."Maybe, if you asked me to, I would change it all. I would change everything." BellaxLoki FIRST CHAPTER FIC!

Rated: Fiction T - English - Romance/Supernatural - Bella & Loki - Chapters: 11 - Words: 11,950 - Reviews: 58 - Favs: 49 - Follows: 63 - Updated: 12-18-12 - Published: 09-09-12 - id: 8510329
 

I've gotten a bunch of cards and ornaments from campers, and I just wanted to say thanks! It's made me smile when sadly this holiday season I don't have much to smile about. xoxo You campers really are the best!

Welcome to the

Holiday Help Desk

Need last minute gift ideas? Want to know how to handle the relative who has a little too much Christmas cheer?

Have a date for new years but are unsure you want to kiss him at the stroke of twelve?

Need a cookie recipe? A cocktail recipe? A spa recipe?

This is the place to ask!

Not only that! You can ask your regular-every-day-help-desk questions as well!

Lose a fic? Can't remember a name? Have a request or need advice about something NOT related to the Holidays? You can ask that here as well. It's kind of like a Help Desk Free For ALL!

Helpful campers are standing by to help YOU!

The holidays seem to bring out the cookers and the eaters! I know my family associates hearty meals with a feeling of warmth and love.

This year I'm mixing it up just a little bit! We are having a Tourtiere, which is a French Canadian meat pie kind of thing, and I have a huge pot of gumbo stewing right now, most of it will be frozen for us to enjoy next week!

We also make sugar cookies using my grandma's famous recipe. When we were kids we had no clue how her sugar cookies were so good, and she kept that secret like it was golden! Now we all have the recipe that was hand written in the margins of one of her cookbooks... the secret is lemon! A little zest and a little squeeze!

I also started making cardamon cookies a few years ago... they are just divine!

What do you cook that is a special tradition? How does it bring your family together?

(I'll tell you my family's turducken story, and how it almost made my sister slap me later!!!)

There are a lot of Christmas fic recs floating around... I thought I would go with one of the Chefward stories, it's one of my favorites.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6655429/1/Wild

Recently widowed Bella moves to Seattle to start a new life. Reconnecting with her friend, Bella meets Alice's brother, Chef Edward Cullen. Celibate by choice for 2 years, what happens when Edward finds himself undeniably attracted to a sexy new Bella?

Affleck falls out of "Focus"

New Rob pics FYT

To make it interactive: Have you tried rereading angsty fics that had once floored you? Does it have the same effect? I just reread With Teeth's sneer today hoping to let it consume me like it did a couple of years ago, but no :(

i remember reading a fanfiction about a year or 2 ago that i really enjoyed. I can't remember the name and have tried looking for it with no luck :( It is a twilight one and edward and bella are friends, edward is scottish (so is rose and emmett), they are all living in america, edward plays rugby and is going out with tanya, who is from brazil. edwards visa runs out and he marries bella to stay in the states, they start falling in love, edward finds out tanya is a porn star, bella and edward o to scotland. alice and jasper is in it alice is something to do with immigersion, she has to find out if bella and edward's marriage is real. that's all i can remember of it, does anyone know the name of it or better yet can send me a copy of it?? thanks

i recommened http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4992721/3/His-Personal-Assistant

Tell us what you are reading RIGHT NOW!

Books and Fanfiction alike!

Please link if you are reading fanfiction or give us a nice summary if you are reading a book. We also LOVE reviews and discussing stories, so tell us what you think of what you are reading!

Weekly CHALLENGE:

It was a rough weekend. A lot of us cried. A lot of us were angry or confused. So now it is time to heal. Give us your favorite escapist reading. It can be a book or a fic that you just lost yourself reading.

For example: After 9/11 I picked up Harry Potter for the first time. It helped me to dive head first into a beautiful, imaginative world.  

So tell us what you have read that has captivated you. The perfect story or the perfect Edward, the perfect romance or the perfect world. 

BUT, AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO IGNORE THE SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT AND REC ANYTHING!

As always, read, review, and let 'em know you saw their fic rec'd on ADF.

ADF photo scavenger hunt

i've never done this before, so bear with me.

how to play:

• start a comment with ONE WORD
• we'll respond by taking a picture and posting it
• i think this works better if it's pictures you take, not pictures you google, don't you?
• and we'll comment on people's pictures
• keep it to one word (or hyphenated word or phrase???)
• don't put explanations with your pictures, just post the pictures

let's see how this goes, shall we?

bruno mars singing "part of your world" from the little mermaid fyt: